After nine months of regular doctor's visits and an array of tests, it may come as a relief for some new moms that the prenatal portion of pregnancy is over. But according to some medical experts, the first few postpartum weeks are a critical and sometimes stressful time for a woman, and she needs to prioritize her own mental and physical wellness, in addition to that of her baby.

"Traditionally, six weeks postpartum is when the uterus is back to normal," says Linda Given Welch, a certified nurse midwife in Evanston, Ill. "But in my practice, I try to see everyone at two weeks, especially first-time moms."

After giving birth, most women are overwhelmed by fatigue and trying to keep track of feeding the baby every few hours, caring for their body post-labor, and most likely, hosting an array of visitors during her hospital stay. It can be hard to remember what appointments need to be scheduled.

"A big issue is to remind women so they don't forget to come back, and then you don't see patients for two or three years" Welch says. "A lot of times women get discharge instructions where they are reminded to call and make that follow-up appointment."

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